Books that Expand the Mind
Explore mind-expanding books that challenge perspectives, from John H. McWhorter’s *Losing the Race* on race and identity to Henry David Thoreau’s *Walden and Civil Disobedience* on philosophy and self-reliance—perfect for intellectual growth.
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Walden and Civil Disobedience
by Henry David Thoreau
A transcendentalist classic on social responsibility and a manifesto that inspired modern protest movements Critical of 19th-century America’s booming commercialism and industrialism, Henry David Thoreau moved to a small cabin in the woods of Concord, Massachusetts in 1845. Walden, the account of his stay near Walden Pond, conveys at once a naturalist’s wonder at the commonplace and a transcendentalist’s yearning for spiritual truth and self-reliance. But Thoreau's embrace of solitude and simplicity did not entail a withdrawal from social and political matters. Civil Disobedience, also included in this volume, expresses his antislavery and antiwar sentiments, and has influenced resistance movements worldwide. Both give rewarding insight into a free-minded, principled and idiosyncratic life. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Losing the Race
by John H. McWhorter
Explains why "victimhood" is exaggerated and enshrined in African-American families and discusses why these attitudes are destructive to future generations.
